Pucker up, Toledo: The Lemonheads to play Frankie’s

It’s been nearly 20 years since The Lemonheads’ “It’s a Shame About Ray” disc was released.

Some consider the original collection of 12 songs that clocked in at less than 30 minutes pop perfection.

“I think it’s just a good bunch of songs and it’s sort of different from a lot of stuff,” frontman Evan Dando said. “It has a place in my heart anyway; I think it’s a good record. It’s got its own thing.”

The singer-songwriter-guitarist said he knew the disc was special when the Boston band was making it.

“We had never gone to LA to make a record, so that was kind of fun. We came out here, it was like early ’92, and we came out and stayed at this place called Oakwood Apartments. We had a good time,” he said during a call from Los Angeles.

Evan Dando

Dando, bass player and vocalist Juliana Hatfield and drummer David Ryan cut the record at Cherokee Studios. While on the West Coast, the trio hung out with several stars, including Johnny Depp, who appears in the video for the title track.

The Lemonheads will play “It’s a Shame About Ray” in its entirety Jan. 17 at Frankie’s Inner City. Doors open at 7 p.m. The Shining Twins and Hound will open. Tickets are $15 in advance and $17 night of the show.

For the tour, Dando, the one constant member in the group, will be joined by guitarist Josh Lattanzi and drummer Brian Nolan.

“Cheap Trick might have started this whole thing with bands that play old records,” Dando said. “It’s a good way for people to come out and enjoy; they know what they’re getting.”

Fans will have a sweet treat next month: The Lemonheads will release “Hotel Sessions” on Feb. 7. The 14 songs, including the band’s breakthrough hit, “Into Your Arms,” were recorded by Dando circa 1992 in a hotel room in Bondi Beach, Australia.

“[‘Hotel Sessions’ is] just an old cassette we found that’s kind of cool-sounding, and we just put it out because it’s got a fun feel to it. It was very intimate, sort of a demo kind of thing,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dando is working on new music.

“The more I tour with this 20-year-old record, the more I’m like, man, I’ve got to get this [new]record finished. It’s a good catalyst to make me get it done.”